At the beginning of 2022 I decided to actively and purposefully embark on a Self Care Journey. I’ve always been big on Self Love and Self Care but for this year I decided that I would create monthly self care plans. January was pretty hectic for me , so I decided to start in February , the month of love.

I initiated the End of Month Self Care Dinner , which like a good Lifetime movie is exactly what it sounds like. I decided that at the end of each month I would treat myself to dinner at a nice restaurant. This initiative went well and I decided that I could show myself more love and care so I started adding additional tasks to the monthly list.

By the end of April and Early May work became extremely stressful and I was forced to consciously implement Self Care daily in little ways. It meant saying No , accepting that I could only do so much and most importantly giving myself grace. It meant choosing to give priority to my mental and emotional health even if it meant leaving a good opportunity .

By June , I began to understand that Self Love/ Self Care which I often use interchangeably is a journey not a destination. I realised that I was focusing too heavily on feeling good momentarily instead of focusing on my overall well being. I started to consider my health habits and overall fitness more at this time. I decided to add regular exercise to my monthly self care plan and even began seeing some results.

Self Care was about choosing me. About Saying No when persons wanted me to say Yes; about standing up for myself when no one else dared or cared to. Self Care was leaving a sure thing for the unsure just because I knew I deserved and was worth more which made me feel at peace despite all the uncertainty.

As July approached , It became about guarding my peace. I am a firm believer in avoiding negativity no matter how it manifests itself , it could be a friend, a parent or even a significant other. You’ve got to remove yourself from some situations just for the sake of peace. I will always choose peace.

My Self Care Journey taught me the importance of Quality over Quantity; and by this I mean I rather have 1 Quality friend than to be surrounded by 20 persons I can’t vouch for. At the end of July, after my birthday plans abruptly changed, two of my friends really stepped up and made sure I had an amazing day. I have about 5 friends amazing friends. I am blessed to have the type of friends that months , sometimes years will roll by and we won’t see each other but when we do it’s like no time has passed at all. Life happens! True friends may not always be there when you want them but they sure as hell will come running when you need them. I would not trade my friends for the world.

My Self Care Journey continues, though my healthy eating habits have been paused since the week of my birthday and I haven’t restarted working out or eating 100% clean again. However , this Journey has taught me to give myself grace and that’s what I’m doing. I’m not perfect but I’m still pushing. As my former trainer says the key is Progress over Perfection.

Self Care means booking the trip you’ve been putting off for years or quitting the job that just causes you emotional distress. It means getting dolled up to go on a solo date or finally saying yes to that date. It can be pouring yourself a tall glass of wine after a crazy day or having a relaxing bubble bath while finishing a good book. It means turning your phone off or leaving your phone home while you go for a walk or drive ; It means not responding or acknowledging a triggering email or call, It means doing what is necessary for your mental , emotional and sometimes physical health.

Self Care is personal. It looks different for each individual. But it is necessary for each individual. What does Self Care mean for you?